India, with a population of over 1.42 billion, is home to nearly 68.89 crore girls and women, making up 48.51% of the nation. It is imperative to provide them with equal opportunities and a level playing field to excel. The vision is to transform India into a nation where girls are innovators, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and leaders, leveraging their untapped potential for nation-building and economic development.
Unfortunately, since ancient times to the present, disparities in education, health, nutrition, financial inclusion, and employment have prevented many girls from realising their full potential.
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However, the country has made significant strides in the past few decades, in its quest to improve the status of its girl children. The literacy rate among women, which was a mere 8% in 1951, has surged to 65.46% in just six decades. Female child mortality rates have also drastically decreased, and the enrolment rate for girls in primary schools is statistically 104.8%. Dropout rates for girls are lower in primary schools compared to boys, though challenges persist at the upper primary level. Initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan claim to have promoted awareness and infrastructure development around personal and menstrual hygiene for women.
Despite these achievements, during a girl child’s early years, they do not always translate into a better and brighter future for all of them. India’s ranking of 127 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 is certainly concerning. It highlights significant gender disparities, particularly in economic participation and opportunity. This indicates that while there have been improvements in some areas, the country still faces challenges in providing quality education, skill development, and healthcare necessary for girls to contribute fully to the nation’s economy.
Education — a game change for women empowerment
UNESCO underscores the role of education in fostering women's social empowerment by building self-confidence, critical thinking skills, and agency. The World Bank’s research confirms that investing in girls’ education helps reduce gender disparities in multiple aspects of life. However, not simply education but educational quality is the core necessity. Quality education equips girls to participate in the workforce, contribute to economic growth, and positively impact the society.
Further, while India has made progress in enrolment, the quality of education remains a concern. The NEP 2020 recognises the lack of outcomes, particularly at the foundational stage. Over 5 crore children, including many girls, may lack basic foundational learning skills (or foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills), such as reading with comprehension and proficiency in numeracy.
The ASER 2022 report also reveals alarming statistics, with a significant percentage of girls struggling with basic reading and maths skills. Providing girls with foundational skills, in this case, enables them to participate in the workforce, access higher-paying jobs, contribute to their families’ incomes, and fostering economic inclusion and empowerment. Beyond individual benefits, investing in girls' education holds significant economic advantages, with potential GDP growth estimated at $700 billion by 2025, according to a McKinsey Gender Parity study.
In addition to education, skill development plays a vital role in empowering women. Currently, India’s women workers contribute to only 17% of the GDP, significantly below the global average. Skill development can enhance economic participation, and initiatives such as the MUDRA Yojana have encouraged female entrepreneurship to some degree. By harnessing the underutilised potential of women, India could boost its GDP growth rate by almost 1.5% points to 9%.
Conclusion
While progress has been made in empowering India’s girl child, challenges remain, including issues related to sanitation, safety, and child marriage. Achieving equitable access to quality education for all girls requires concerted efforts at the national, state, and community levels. This involves improving infrastructure, raising awareness, and implementing policies for safe and quality education.
India’s commitment to the cause has also been demonstrated through its dedication to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030; in order to engage women at all levels of society and provide them with a productive and enabling environment, India must prioritise quality education for women.
Further, as India strives for gender equality and economic development, it must reaffirm its commitment to gender equality and provide a safe, enabling, and productive environment for its girl child. Investing in education and skill development for girls is not just a choice; it is a necessity.
In closing, let me leave you with a poignant story of young Meera, a girl from a small village in rural India. Meera defied all odds, surmounted obstacles, and received quality education thanks to initiatives like NIPUN Bharat. Armed with knowledge and determination, she not only transformed her own life but also became a beacon of hope for her community, inspiring other girls to chase their dreams. Meera’s journey reflects the transformative power of education in nurturing “Nari Shakti” and paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous India. It reminds us that when we invest in the education of girls, we invest in a brighter future for us all.
—Dr. Fauzia Khan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha & former Minister of State for GAD, Education, Health, and WCD in the Government of Maharashtra. The views expressed are personal.
(Edited by : C H Unnikrishnan)
First Published: Oct 28, 2023 8:48 AM IST
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